<p>My son will be a junior this fall and we are starting preparations for auditions next year. He is a strong singer & performer (a fair amt. of HS & community theater experience + show choir & vocal jazz), two summer workshops (1 week each w/broadway pros), good actor, plays piano, guitar, ukulele (obsessively, lately), harmonica, penny whistle, etc. He's even had a NY audition with Jerry Zaks & Warren Carlisle (he didn't get the job, but such a cool experience!). </p>
<p>Our area of concern is dance. His dance experience includes 12 years of competitive Scottish Highland dancing (no, not Riverdance). He is a total sponge who has absorbed every dance combo his theatrical choreographers have thrown at him. He was even included in a tap number with all experienced tappers, even though he's never had a tap lesson. He picked it up very quickly and was placed in the front row. I know his Highland experience has served as a great foundation and is why he picks up other dance so easily. My question is this... Having never had a ballet, tap or jazz lesson, what is the best way to get the basics he'll need for the audition process? I fear if I approach our local dance studios, he'll be put in a class with a bunch of little kids... maybe not get exactly what he needs. Maybe work in private lessons? Take our chances with his Highland experience and ability to learn quickly? Other thoughts? Also, will this unique experience be an asset? Or at least memorable? </p>
<p>I've been trolling CC for about a week.... so much great infomation and insight here... excited, nervous and a bit overwhelmed about what's to come! </p>
<p>There are some studios that offer adult pay-per-class classes. Near me, they offer ballet, jazz, modern and hip hop at various levels for adults. I love them and I think that adults would be more welcoming (and possibly less embarrassing) than a class of younger kids.</p>
<p>Look for schools that have Teen classes or Beginner classes for adults/teens. I’m a dancer and at my dance studio we have classes for teens who are and for beginners and generally they put them in classes with their age. Look to see if any studios offer that possibly. If he already has experience and can pick up quickly he shouldn’t have many problems, but taking some classes should help further prepare him and get him more used to it, he should definitely improve.</p>
<p>I dont know where you are but if you are close to NYC if you coach with MTCA they have great dance classes or you could take drop in classes at broadway dance center.</p>
<p>Thank you for the prompt responses. We are in sub-sub-urban Michigan (about an hour outside Detroit). Our town has 5 dance studios, and by looking at their websites, I might have an adult ballet & an adult tap option? No jazz. Any idea what he REALLY needs to know? Is there a baseline level of techniques he should know… certain movements, terminology or combinations? </p>
<p>I hope in auditions, he’ll get asked about the Highland on his r</p>
<p>If he can only take one class, I would make it ballet as it is the basis for all else. . If time allows a jazz class would be nice. I would not worry about tap- it sounds like he is already picking it up easily, and it is not usually included in college auditions. </p>
<p>You might check out community college dance programs for classes. I don’t know how it works in Mich., but my D took a lot of dance classes at our CC all at no cost since high school students in CA can enroll in CC classes at no charge. They offered beginner to advanced levels, but all geared toward young adults since it was at a college.</p>
<p>This is a timely question. My son is also a rising junior, and he’s had only a year of dance in school where they tried a lot of styles but mastered none of them. He’s considering taking dance at a studio this year, but meanwhile I’m looking for schools where dance is a lesser priority.</p>
<p>I also highly recommend a ballet class at least. During a few of my daughter’s auditions for MT last year, they called out dance terminology for the students to perform. Being familiar with the basic ballet terminology is extremely useful.</p>
<p>I don’t know what direction from Detroit you are but there are several in the area along with community colleges. Ballet would be the best that way he can get familiar with the terms. He obviously can move and you said he picks up on combos so that shouldn’t be a problem for him in auditions. It seemed that most auditions looked for the ability to learn to dance and to be able to move. Dance should not hold him back especially if he has the other two down.</p>
<p>broadway95 hit the nail on the head, unless a guy is a “dance first, sing and act second and third” type, then they will look for good movement, fluidity, and the ability to learn to dance (the scottish highland is a good sign he can learn what he’ll need to know). </p>
<p>Also, playing that guitar and ukulele could be seen as a nice asset, especially these days when you see more musicals with characters playing instruments on the stage.</p>
<p>I would go and interview the studio owners and tell them exactly what you are looking for. I think they should place your son with the older kids for ballet and jazz, or offer privates. If they don’t, move on to the next studio. Here’s our experience…
My D switched dance studios in 9th grade and had no ballet before that. The new studio owner placed her in the highest level ballet class right off the bat, because she said she is an experienced dancer, and should be with her peers. She said my D would pick it up, and she did… by the year’s end recital she fit right in to the class.
My D is taking some privates this summer at her studio, to work on her senior solo while she has a little extra time before school starts, and also just to work on trouble areas in her dancing. She is loving the privates, and asked me the other day “Can I keep taking them all year long?” She said she is learning so much. Privates are a great way to take in a lot of information quickly, and could be a good option for your son to get just what he needs.</p>
<p>Don’t eliminate the dance-heavy audition schools from his list only because of the dance element. I agree with others who have said a lot of schools are looking for potential. Your son already has demonstrated he picks up moves easily. If he can get a little ballet under his “dance belt” and learn the terminology, he should be fine at any audition.</p>
<p>I think he’s in fantastic shape already! The dance element is not as important as acting and singing, at many programs, maybe even most, especially for boys. My son’s entering an excellent MT program in the fall, Ithaca, and they didn’t even have a dance portion of the audition. Good thing, because he’s never had a dance class in his life. I heard a rumor that Carnegie Mellon University, one of the hottest and most competitive MT programs, will not have a dance component for MTs this year.</p>
<p>Everyone is correct when they say that dance for boys may not be the most important part of MT auditions, (although some programs will have heavy dance auditions). One thing we have noticed is that boys who have some dance skills on top of all else often get some very generous talent scholarships. It sounds as if your son already has a great background and can pick up dance very easily. If he can just get a little terminology on top of what he already has, it may give him that edge up so he is on the “wanted” list by MT programs.</p>
<p>The rumor prodesse cites is correct, CMU has eliminated the dance call at this year’s auditions…which is great for my S who, like MTmom2015’s S, is also a terrific singer and actor with lots of show dancing but limited formal dance training. He’s been taking private ballet lessons twice a week with a local dancer/choreographer to get the basic terminology and technique under his (dance) belt. We found that dance studios were more than willing to work with us to find a solution that didn’t involve my S being the only teenage boy in a sea of tiny tutus!</p>
<p>My S, a rising senior, has been taking ballet plus other genres for several years. Getting whatever ballet you can would be very beneficial. Privates are terrific - my S did it for tap and it was great to focus on his personal skill level. If you can find a studio that offers "boys’ or “mens” ballet classes, that would be terrific - they are often multi-aged and multi-leveled, but also focus on the stuff that boys are good at - jumping and leaping - and also find to be more fun than the “girl” stuff. That said, we live near CCM, have seen many of their shows and have spoken with current students. We were amazed to find that some of the actors we have seen do awesome dance moves in a show had little, or no, dance training before they got to CCM. Good Luck.</p>
<p>I’ll echo some previous comments. My twin sons who are starting their second year at FSU’s MT program found that Ballet training in HS was most helpful, particularly if one is already a good “mover” Like your son, they were active in show choir, etc. I agree with previous posters that certain schools weigh the dance audition differently in their acceptance formula. Ithaca does not have a dance audition but OKlahoma’s on campus audition is divided into movers and dancers. Research the schools and utilize this forum to ask questions.</p>
<p>This is an interesting thread to me. My S is a strong dancer. I did read CMU eliminated their dance portion. Ithaca requires a dance portion for pre screening but if you are invited to the live audition dance will not be reviewed. I will do more research on this.</p>
<p>I would also agree, having some experience with S that dances, ballet would be most beneficial. S attends a performing arts school and all dancers are required to take ballet 3 times per week.</p>
Any idea what he REALLY needs to know? Is there a baseline level of techniques he should know… certain movements, terminology or combinations? </p>